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Wednesday, November 7, 2012

Is Obama’s re-election a boon for US foreign aid?

Barack Obama reelection Tuesday (Nov. 6) as U.S. president suggests a continuation of U.S. foreign aid reforms focused on food aid, global health, country ownership and private sector engagement.

Obama’s win is good news for the U.S. Agency for International Development, which could have faced deep budget cuts in a Republican administration. Under Obama, the agency is expected to continue with USAID Forward, its broad reform agenda that, among other things, seeks changes to procurement and implementation practices.

Questions over leadership, however, linger. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is not expected to stay for more than a few months into Obama’s second term, if at all. Some Washington insiders also suggest that USAID Administrator Rajiv Shah is interested in pursuing a political career sooner rather than later.